Critical minerals manufacturing dream tempered by harsh reality
Falling prices mean Australia’s ambitions to develop a critical minerals industry and downstream processing and manufacturing are on pause. Is this a waiting game, or is it all over?
A buoyant Western Australia might still be crucial to Anthony Albanese’s election hopes but the mood in the state’s mining industry has changed considerably since 2022.
That goes well beyond the collapse in the global price of lithium and nickel, which has led to the shutdown of lithium and nickel mines and processing – from projects owned by BHP to the usual cast of WA resources billionaires.
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Jennifer Hewett is the national affairs columnist. She writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com
